A HEROIC guest saved a historic Burwardsley inn from devastation after an arson attack.

The 300-year-old Pheasant Inn, on Pennsylvania Road, was broken into and the blaze started in the bar at about 3am on Saturday morning.

Luckily for the 23 occupants of the hotel, a quick-thinking guest spotted the blaze and managed to put out the fire with his coat before it had a chance to take hold.

An arrest has been made and a man has appeared in court.

Pheasant Inn owner Andrew Nelson is now calling the guest, Mr Reeder, a hero after he effectively saved the lives of others and his business.

He said everyone concerned was relieved a tragedy had been averted.

“Mr Reeder is staying with us again this weekend complimentary as a thanks for what he did,” said Mr Nelson. “If everything had gone up in smoke, it could never have been replaced.

“The 300-year-old beams, joists and wattle and daub make this place what it is. It is absolutely priceless.

“Fortunately we have only lost a day’s trading and it is has cost us in the region of £15-20,000, which includes damage. But it could have been much worse.”

Pheasant Inn staff downloaded the shocking footage from CCTV cameras within the bar area. It is claimed the images show a male offender inside the premises tampering with the till before setting fire to paper and adding alcohol spirits to create a larger blaze.

Cheshire police spokesman Jason Murray said: “The till had been taken but was found dumped outside.”

He added: “The arrest was made in a nearby field and the offender failed to comply with officers’ requests and he was detained by the police dog.”

Danny Roberts, 20, of Wharton Court, Hoole, appeared at Chester Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with theft and committing arson intending to destroy property and being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered.

Appearing on crutches, due to an injury he said was caused by a police dog during an arrest, Roberts did not enter a plea and was released on conditional bail.

Roberts, who was employed as a chef at the Pheasant Inn for several weeks prior to the incident, was ordered to stay at his home address and was made subject to a doorstep-curfew order, enforced between 9pm and 7am.

He is due to appear at Chester Crown Court on Monday, July 26.